Page 2

Ares

Times had changed. The Dixie Reapers’ clubhouse no longer boasted loud parties and naked women. Well, the naked women were gone, at any rate. Music pulsed from the speakers as everyone took a much-needed break. My dad had been in Church off and on since this mess started, and more often than not, the members hung out in the clubhouse discussing the issue at hand. Except right now, the doors were open to anyone.

I sat at the bar with a soda. Portia sat on one side of me and Venom’s youngest, Dawson, was on my other side. Patched members lined the bar on either side of them.

“Pass me a beer, Ares,” Bull shouted from farther down. I reached over the counter into the ice chest, then slid the longneck down the bar top. I caught a smirk from my father as he watched.

“Hey, Pres. Think your girl has a future as a bartender,” Bull said. He chuckled and twisted the top off. “She’s got good aim.”

“Better than Foster’s aim last week,” I shot back, a playful jab at his son’s appalling shooting during target practice. He snorted and took a swallow of his beer, while Foster shot me a glare.

This place was my home. Dad and the Dixie Reapers had been my salvation, pulling me from the abyss with hands as rough as the life they led. Even though I couldn’t be a patched member, I was a Reaper’s kid. My dad had given me permission to get the club colors inked on my shoulder blade. It was a super small one compared to the ones the guys here had. I’d seen quite a few with the colors covering their entire backs. In addition, I’d gotten a phoenix rising from the ashes inked on the outside of my right thigh -- a mirror of my own rebirth.

Foster might be mad at me right now, but I knew he’d get over it. In a lot of ways, he was like a brother to me. All of the kids here close to my age felt like family. Although, Foster, Owen, and Dawson were all older than me. Not that I could tell when it came to Foster.

Cowboy’s son, Jackson, entered the clubhouse, his cowboy boots thudding against the wood floor as he came closer. He put his arms around me and hugged me from behind.

“You smell like horses and dirt.”

“Mom always said it was the best scent in the world.”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Yeah, I could see his mother saying that. “Well, it’s better than sweat, I guess. Preparing for your next rodeo?”

“I was planning to head out in the morning, but with everything going on…”

I tipped my head back to look up at him. “You should go. If you put your life on hold every time something bad happens around here, you’ll never get to do the one thing you love most.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Yeah, I know. You’re awfully smart for someone so young.”

“You’re only six years older than me, Jackson. It’s not like you’re ancient.”

“In rodeo years, I’m over a decade older than you.”

I really did laugh that time. “Is that like dog years or something?”

“Close enough. Hand me a beer. I’m going to go with Akira. She’s in the corner with her nose in a book again.”

I reached over for another longneck and passed it to him. He patted my shoulder before wandering off. I watched him, noticing he hadn’t lied. Akira, Wraith’s daughter, really did have a book in front of her face. From the cover, no one would realize she was reading smut. If her parents had any idea of the types of books she bought, they’d both have a fit.

I sipped on my soda and just soaked up the atmosphere. My friends and family were all talking or laughing. Despite everything going on outside the club gates, they seemed at peace in this particular moment. Happy. I hoped things could stay like this. I didn’t want anyone here to suffer the way I had.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” Tank said, approaching with a smile on his face. “Ares Black, quiet as a church mouse.”

I smirked, nudging him with my elbow. “Just soaking it all in. Some days, I don’t remember how blessed I am, until we’re all together like this. Family. Friendship. As long as we have those, we can weather any storm.”

“Damn straight.” He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “We’re always in your corner, Ares.”

“Same here,” I replied. It wasn’t just words -- it was a promise. We were the Dixie Reapers, and we protected our own with the ferocity of a mother bear defending her cubs. I might not be a member of the club itself, but as the President’s daughter, these people were still my family, and I’d die to keep them safe.

I glanced at my watch and stood. Joker wanted Cleo to feel welcome here, and while I wasn’t quite ready to be friends with the woman, I also knew what it was like to be the outsider. I’d promised to head over and play a board game. Instead of driving, I decided to walk. The fresh air would be nice, and it would give me time to get my thoughts in order. It felt like utter chaos inside my head these days.

Ridley and Isabella were already there when I arrived. I fell into step behind them as they entered Joker’s home. Ridley had a few board games tucked under her arm. At least they’d come prepared, because I doubted Joker had any. I’d already given them a few of the ones we had at home that I thought might be fun.

“Hey, Cleo,” I said.

“Good to see you guys.” Her voice sounded hollow, and it looked like she hadn’t been sleeping well.

Isabella walked over to her first, giving her a hug. “How are you holding up?”

“Counting down the minutes,” she said.

Ridley clapped her hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet room. “We’re here to take your mind off things. Right, Ares?”

I nodded. “Yeah, we brought some board games. Thought we could all use a distraction.”

“Thanks,” she murmured.

We settled around her kitchen table. Before we’d even had a chance to set up the game, someone knocked on the door. Joker went to answer. Ridley started to set up one of the games, and Isabella and I helped. I noticed Cleo kept glancing toward the door.

He returned with an envelope and handed it to Cleo. “For you.”

“Who’s it from?” she asked. She ripped open the envelope and as she read the contents of the paper inside, she paled a bit.

“Everything all right?” Isabella asked.

“Fine,” she said. Did anyone else notice the tremor in her voice or the way her hands trembled? “Just a reminder about my appointment.”

“Ah, can’t forget that,” Ridley said.

“Let’s focus on the game,” Cleo suggested.

I rolled the dice and gave a little shout of excitement, hoping to make things seem as normal as possible. “All right!”

Everyone took their turns rolling the dice and moving their tokens. When it went around to Cleo, she stared at the board, almost as if she wasn’t fully present. I glanced at Ridley and Isabella, and realized they’d noticed it too. Cleo must have a lot on her mind between the issues with her family and her heart problem.

“Your move, Cleo,” Ridley prompted.

“Right,” she mumbled.

We played for quite a while, until the sky started to darken. I didn’t know if this had distracted Cleo or not, but it had kept me from focusing on things for a while. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed this until now. I helped clean up the games, then we told Joker and Cleo goodbye.

Ridley offered me a ride, but I waved her off. The walk would do me some good. I paused at the clubhouse and stared at my car. It didn’t make sense to leave it here overnight, but at the same time, I’d prefer to get home on my own two feet than by driving there. I decided to leave it and kept walking.

A sudden chill prickled my skin, a whisper of danger that tightened my muscles. A feeling of unease skittered down my spine, and I wondered if trouble was drawing closer than any of us realized.

When I got home, there was a wrongness I felt all the way to my core. I slowly approached the house, keeping an eye on my surroundings, just the way Dad had taught me. I twisted the knob on the front door and pushed it open.

“Mom? Are you here?” I called out. Nothing. Not so much as a whisper of sound. I eased farther into the house, wondering if I should call Dad. Dessa’s car was outside, which meant she had to be here. She hadn’t ridden with him to the clubhouse earlier, even though she’d been there with the kids.

“Junie, Judd, Marnie!” I shouted.

No one answered, and I couldn’t find anyone at home. I went back outside, wondering if maybe they went to a neighbor’s house. Before I’d made it to the end of the driveway, I felt the cold kiss of metal against my neck.

“Move and those little children will be the ones we take,” said a cold voice near my ear. I knew this man had to have broken into the compound. If he wasn’t one of Cleo’s relatives, then he was working for them. I didn’t know how I knew, but I did.

My breath hitched, the instinct to fight warring with the need to keep Junie, Marnie, and Judd safe. I didn’t know where they were, or if this man had already hurt them. If I did what he said, maybe he’d leave them alone.

“Go with us quietly, or those little ones will be coming with us instead,” he said.

“Take me,” I choked out, my words barely above a whisper. “But let them live. Please don’t hurt them.”

I knew without a doubt my three siblings wouldn’t survive the horrors I’d faced before. All of them were babies, not a single one older than seven years old.

“Smart girl.” He shoved me forward. My world narrowed to the pounding of my heart and the conviction that I would do anything for my family. As we approached the fence, I saw where they’d cut their way into the compound. With everything going on, it was no wonder no one had noticed. Normally, security was incredibly tight here, especially with all the trouble over the years. But I doubted Wire was monitoring the cameras since he was busy trying to determine the Lathems’ next move.

“This is going to sting,” he said. I didn’t get a chance to process what was happening before I felt a prick of a needle in my neck, and then my body became dead weight. I couldn’t move, even though I was still awake. The world spun a bit, and I couldn’t even open my mouth to scream.

The man hefted me over his shoulder and stepped through the cut fence line. It wasn’t long before I’d been tossed into the back of a van.

I’m sorry, Dad, but this was the only way .

* * *

The metal of the cage was cold against my skin, a stark contrast to the adrenaline that burned through my veins. I’d been shoved into the small, confined space so violently that my breath hitched in my throat, the impact rattling my bones and leaving me momentarily winded. The acrid stench of fear and sweat hung heavy in the air as I forced myself onto shaky legs, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. At least I was able to move again.

The van ride hadn’t been pleasant, and it had taken what felt like forever before I was able to move again. I didn’t have any concept of time right now. Had a half hour passed since they’d put me in here? An hour? Longer?

“Quiet down,” one of the men yelled, his eyes glinting with malice through the bars. They didn’t see us as people. To them, we were just cargo, products for their sick trade. I glanced around, taking in the sight of other victims huddled in the corners of their own cages, their faces etched with despair. My gut twisted at the realization of what awaited us, old memories clawing their way to the surface. Not again .

“Please,” a soft voice whimpered from a cage nearby. “I want to go home.”

The plea sliced through me, a painful reminder of my own stolen innocence years ago. I suppressed the urge to reach out, to offer comfort. Instead, I remained still, my gaze fixed on the concrete floor. Survival meant keeping distance between myself and the others. I couldn’t save them. I needed all the strength I could muster so I wouldn’t break this time.

As silence fell over us, punctuated only by the occasional sob or shuffling feet, dread settled in my stomach like a lead weight. What would happen to Junie, Marnie, and Judd if I didn’t make it back? What about Dad and Dessa? Would everyone blame themselves for what happened to me? I had no doubt the club would tear down heaven and hell to find me, but time wasn’t on our side. The warehouse wasn’t set up for long-term storage, which meant they were going to sell us fast, and then they’d be in the wind.

“Stay strong, Ares,” I whispered to myself. My will to fight, to survive, was rooted deep within me. But even the fiercest warrior felt fear, and mine was a roaring inferno threatening to consume me.

The stale air made bile rise up my throat and I swallowed it down. I couldn’t show even a hint of weakness. The darkness seemed to swallow everything around me. The glow of a computer screen illuminated the men holding us hostage. Were they selling us online? Or in person? Not that either option was good.

“Stream’s going live in five,” one of them said, a ghoulish excitement in his voice. “Bids are already piling up.”

I shivered. Shit. They were auctioning us online, which meant they were on the dark web. I’d heard Wire and Lavender talk about it before. A hidden network filled with humanity’s dregs. They’d trade lives like stocks. Girls like us were reduced to thumbnails on a screen, and depraved men and women would bid outrageous amounts to see who would be taking us home.

My heart hammered against my ribs, each beat a stark reminder of the stakes. I had to escape, to return to those who were waiting, praying for my safety. Even if they hadn’t noticed I was missing yet, it wouldn’t be long before they did. My phone had been tossed before they’d dumped me in the van, which meant Wire wouldn’t be able to track me.

The men continued to set up their equipment, oblivious -- or indifferent -- to the terror they sowed. More screens flickered to life, revealing an online auction room, a digital Colosseum where twisted individuals raised their bids with the click of a mouse. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the sight, but the sounds of their operation, the clicking of keyboards, and the muttered confirmations of received payments invaded my senses.

“Looks like this batch is gonna fetch a high price,” another voice crooned, greed lacing every syllable.

I steeled myself, refusing to be broken by their words. I wouldn’t be a passive victim. I would fight, endure, survive.

“The bitch from the motorcycle club will draw a lot of bidders. Already got a bunch checking out her listing,” one of them said. “The interest on her is really damn high. We struck gold with that one!”

My stomach knotted, and I closed my eyes, hoping Wire would find me before it was too late.